rumor-central-header

Hearing Rumors? Not sure your co-worker has it right?

Rumor Central has the answers! Submit your question or just browse our blog to separate facts from fiction.


Subscribe to Rumor Central

Subscribe to receive a monthly email that includes answers to recent Rumor Central questions.

Log in to myMOSERS. Click on Personal Information, then on Email Options. Check the box next to Rumor Central


  • Tax Penalty and BackDROP

    Feb 15, 2022, 1:45 PM By MOSERS
    This year(2022) I will be 54 and will have completed 32 years working for the State. I will have my 5 year backdrop complete in 2024 at age 56. I plan to roll over my back drop sum. Will I be penalized for collecting my monthly retirement checks before 59-1/2? 

    Once you meet both the age and service requirements for normal retirement, there is no tax penalty for collecting your monthly defined benefit pension payment from MOSERS prior to age 59 ½.

    Given a retirement of age 55 or later and a rollover of a BackDROP payment to a qualified retirement account *(such as MO Deferred Comp), future withdrawals from that account prior to age 59 ½ would not be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty.

    For further reference, please see the Special Tax Notice brochure for more details.

    *Excludes Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s).

    Print Friendly and PDF
  • Email Preferences

    Feb 2, 2022, 4:37 PM By MOSERS
    I would like paper notifications please.

    If you would like to change your email preferences and receive paper notifications, please log in to myMOSERS. After logging in, select Personal Information then Email Options. From there, you can uncheck the option to “Receive all notices electronically”. If you do so, we will mail hard copies of your member correspondence to you. We will still send some information, which is not available in hard copy, such as the quarterly Board meeting updates, via email. If you are unable to log in, please contact a MOSERS benefit counselor who will be happy to help you.


    Print Friendly and PDF
  • Annual Leave Payout for Health Insurance Premiums

    Jan 27, 2022, 10:13 AM By MOSERS

    When you retire can you turn in your Annual Leave to pay for your health insurance to cover the rest of the year you retire?

    Yes, there is an option to pre-pay health insurance premiums in retirement with a payout for unused annual leave. However, this is outside of the scope of benefits that MOSERS administers.

    Please contact your HR office, MCHCP, and ASI Flex for details on the forms you will need to complete and the associated deadlines. Additionally, we encourage you to check with your human resources office about policies on annual and sick leave accrual and usage before retirement. 

    Please note that the amount of your unused annual leave has no impact on your MOSERS retirement benefits.

    Print Friendly and PDF
  • W-2 vs.1099-R

    Jan 26, 2022, 3:24 PM By MOSERS
    tax forms. W2 vs. Form 1099R Are these the same forms

    No, they are not the same. A W-2 form comes from an employer, not from MOSERS. A W-2 shows income you’ve earned from your employer. A 1099-R shows distributions you have received from pensions and other retirement plans.

    MOSERS provides you with a 1099-R tax form. This form lists your 2021 retirement benefit income from MOSERS. You will need this form to file your income tax return. If you receive more than one benefit from MOSERS, you may receive more than one 1099-R from us.

    We will mail your 1099-R form by the end of January. You can also access it online by logging into myMOSERS You will find it under Personal Information and available for you to save or print.  If you are unable to log in to myMOSERS, call us at (800) 827-1063 or (573) 632-6100 and we can mail you a replacement. For security reasons, we cannot email it to you.

    Print Friendly and PDF
  • 2022 COLA Rate

    Jan 25, 2022, 9:17 AM By MOSERS
    Will we get the 5% Cola this year? Medicare gave a raise of 5.9%. If not please explain.

    The COLA rate for 2022 is 3.758%.

    According to Missouri state law, MOSERS calculates COLAS as follows:

    Each January, we must compare the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the calendar year just completed (2021) to the average CPI from the prior year (2020) to determine the percentage change between the two years. For general state employees, COLAs are based on 80% of the percentage increase in the average (CPI) from one year to the next. The maximum increase is 5% (minimum 0%).

    The 2022 COLA rate of 3.758% applies to: 

    • All retired members of MSEP 2000 and MSEP 2011
    • MSEP retirees who have reached their 65% COLA cap
    • MSEP retirees first employed on or after August 28, 1997

    If you were employed before August 28, 1997, and retired under MSEP, you will get a COLA of at least 4% each year (maximum 5%) until you reach your COLA cap. You reach the COLA cap when the sum of your COLAs equals 65% of your initial base benefit amount. After reaching your COLA cap, your annual COLA will be equal to 80% of the percentage increase in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) from one year to the next, which, as noted above, is 3.758 for 2022.

    The purpose of a COLA for any type of pay or retirement benefit is to help you cope with inflation. COLAs help you maintain your purchasing power as inflation increases the cost of various items you buy. See the article, The 2022 COLA is Here, and the COLA page on our website for more information. 

    Print Friendly and PDF
  • Retirement Application Due Date

    Jan 21, 2022, 10:04 AM By MOSERS
     How far in advance of retirement do you need to turn in your paperwork?

    There must be one entire month between the date we receive your application and your retirement date. For example, if your retirement date is March 1, your Retirement Application is due no later than January 31 and your Retirement Election Form is due no later than February 28. You can submit your retirement application as early as 4 months (120 days) prior to your retirement date.

    Visit our Ready to Retire page to view the table showing all due dates. You can also find the due dates on p. 6 of the Retirement Guide along with step-by-step instructions for the retirement process. We also encourage you to participate in a Ready to Retire Webinar or Seminar

    Print Friendly and PDF
  • 1099-R Tax Forms are Coming Soon

    Jan 11, 2022, 4:21 PM By MOSERS
    Hi, When will we receive our 2021 tax forms for pensions and for deferred comp rmds? Thanks!

    We will mail your MOSERS 1099-R tax form to you by the end of January. After we have mailed it, your MOSERS 1099-R will also be available for you to view and print or save from your Document Express online mailbox after you log in to myMOSERS. This form lists your 2021 pension benefit income from MOSERS. You will need this form to file your income tax return. If you receive more than one benefit from MOSERS, you may receive more than one 1099-R from us. For more information, please see our latest news item regarding 1099-Rs.

    Your 1099-R tax form from the MO Deferred Comp Plan will be available in your online account by the fourth week of January 2022. The plan will also mail you a copy no later than January 31, 2022.

    Print Friendly and PDF

Topics

Archive

Disclaimer

We strive to provide the most accurate information possible in our answers to Rumor Central questions. However, occasionally, laws, policies or provisions change and individual circumstances may vary. Please contact a MOSERS benefit counselor or see the handbooks in our website Library for more detailed information. If there is any difference between the information provided in this blog or on the MOSERS website and the law or policies that govern MOSERS, the law and policies will prevail. See our Privacy, Security & Legal Notices for more information.